Riga

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When the sun goes down, an entirely different side of the city is revealed. ShermansTravel experts sort through the dives and overpriced cocktails to show you the best bars and nightspots that really give a taste of the local vibe, while also pointing out the jazz clubs, theater performances, and dancehalls that travelers might not find on their own.

Riga Nightlife

Cuba Café

This kicking joint lives up to its name with authentic, Havanese paraphernalia and, after 9pm, funky sets of salsa and jazz. Downstairs, 20-somethings hog the pool table.

Jauniela 15, 011-371-722-4362

Tags: nightlife | trendy | dancing | jazz | nightclub

Nautilus

Fashionable, nocturnal urbanites (mostly locals) descend on the Nautilus dance floor around midnight to jive to house, soul, and funk.

Kungu 8, 011-371-781-4455, www.nautilus.lv

Tags: nightlife | lounge | dancing | nightclub

Opium Dance

Although Opium Dance prides itself on style and music, its chic (though slightly generic) décor falls slightly short of the mark. Still, the candlelit space is a great place to get started with cocktails. There’s a dance floor, but it’s tiny.

Valnu 18, 011-371-293-79131

Tags: nightlife | trendy | dancing | bar | nightclub

Skyline Bar

Shag carpets, smooth tunes, and a colony of comfy seats take you back to the '70s in this uber-trendy watering-hole. Head here for top-notch cocktails and city views.

Reval Hotel, Elizabetes 55, 011-371-777-2222

Tags: nightlife | smart splurge | views | trendy | lounge | bar

Sunset Bar

Sunset reels ‘em in with a comfortable retro interior, reasonably-priced drinks, a pretty crowd, and a useful line up of credible DJ’s playing garage and trance music.

janvara iela 33, 011-371-6735-0385, www.sunsetbar.lv

Tags: nightlife | trendy | dancing | nightclub

Velvets

This charming Old Riga standby heats up at dusk courtesy of the bar-top go-go dancers. Predictably, it can get a bit crowded; the cocktails are on the pricey side as well.

Skarnu 9, 011-371-6721-5075

Tags: nightlife | dancing | bar

Voodoo

This diminutive, casino-cum-nightclub on the ground floor of the Reval Hotel is often packed to the gills with a mixed crowd of affluent locals and expats.